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Interior design and architecture studio, An Artful Life, transformed a dull and dated house into a coastal home that is now a contemporary haven, perfectly blending the tranquility of its natural surroundings with the elegance of modern design.
Clients Anna & Richard, in their 70s, purchased the property for its idyllic location on a quiet private road, offering breathtaking sea views on one side and serene estuary views on the other.
Despite Anna’s experience renovating Victorian properties, the scale of this contemporary project was daunting, and she wanted help to keep her choices ‘tasteful’.
When An Artful Life studio came on board they’d already had an architect draw up their extension and remodelling plans but An Artful Life’s ‘InsideOut’ design process meant some changes to the plan and exterior build were required to ensure the detailed interior layouts fitted to the client’s brief and that they were able to include certain design features from an early stage rather than find out later they couldn’t be incorporated.
The studio worked on layout and practical issues in conjunction with aesthetic concepts at the same time to ensure both were given equal importance.
The brief was to unify and design the interior of the house featuring bespoke joinery (created in collaboration with McCormack Joinery) including wardrobes, bookshelves, layout of the kitchen, and bathrooms and improve on the overall plans.
As an avid fan of World of Interiors, House and Garden, and modern architecture generally, the clients wanted the house to be an eclectic mix of old and modern where the client’s inherited antique furniture pieces could be incorporated seamlessly into the design.
The scope of work included:
Exterior Enhancements: All new windows and exterior finishes were installed, ensuring the home not only looked modern but also maximised natural light and sightlines to showcase the beautiful surroundings.
Bespoke Kitchen and Bathroom Designs: We designed fully bespoke kitchens and bathrooms, blending contemporary aesthetics with practical functionality.
Bespoke Staircase and Joinery: A new bespoke staircase and various custom joinery pieces were crafted to add unique character and enhance the home’s architectural integrity.
Comprehensive Interior Design: From concept to completion, we provided interior design services including the selection of furniture, fittings, and finishes throughout the home. Every detail was curated to ensure a harmonious and stylish living environment.
The clients decided to take on the project management themselves, and after many challenges and with the team at An Artful Life providing detailed installation drawings, as well as the right builder, the transformation into this beautiful home was realised.
As Kate Whitfield, the head designer at An Artful Life, commented: “The best feature of this house is really the coastal light and the views, so we maximised on this by specifying lots of glazed screens and doors internally as well as large windows with smaller frames to increase views further. I think the once dull and dated house is now unrecognisable from what it was.
It stands as a testament to modern design and eco-living, equipped with fully sustainable energy solutions. The coastal home is now a contemporary haven for our clients, and we hope the stillness we have brought in through our schemes perfectly blends in with the tranquility of its natural surroundings.”
About An Artful Life Studio
An Artful Life is an Essex-based Interior Architectural Design practice founded by Kate Whitfield and co-owned with her husband and project manager Andrew. With a focus on large-scale renovations, additions and whole-house transformations we are the single source to realise your aspirations and form an exceptional collaboration between design and build.
For more information and to see an Artful Life Studio’s portfolio please visit: https://www.anartfullifestudio.com/
Photographer is Claire Naylor: https://clairenaylorphotography.co.uk/work
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